EP1776103A1 - Ruthenium complexes for treating cancers - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns uses or methods for treating proliferative pathologies, in particular cancers, using ruthenium compounds and compositions containing the same. The invention also concerns novel ruthenium compounds, as well as their preparation method.

Description

 METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR THE TREATMENT OF CANCERS

The present invention relates to uses or methods for the treatment of proliferative pathologies, in particular cancers, using ruthenium compounds and compositions containing them. It also relates to novel ruthenium compounds and to their preparation process.

It is known that platinum-metal compounds exhibit significant antitumor activity. The best known of these is cisplatin, which is commonly used for the clinical treatment of many cancers. The resistance of certain cancer cells and the intrinsic toxicity of platinum are some of the problems encountered when using this compound. Since the 1970s, research has intensified to find molecules that can replace cisplatin and in recent years ruthenium-containing compounds have emerged as an interesting alternative to those containing platinum. Some ruthenium complexes have already been described as being an alternative for cancer treatments.

There is therefore a need for new anti-cancer agents which could be an alternative to those currently used and / or which would have less undesirable side effects.

The present invention thus provides ruthenium compounds which have particularly advantageous anti-tumor properties. These compounds are organometallic compounds, i.e. they contain at least one covalent carbon-Ruthenium (C-Ru) bond. In addition, this C-Ru bond is stabilized by an intramolecular nitrogen-ruthenium (N-Ru) bond, the nitrogen being an element of the organic part bonded to the metal by the carbon atom, in accordance with the scheme below:

In this type of arrangement of atoms, ruthenium is therefore part of a cyclic entity and this class of compounds is commonly called by the chemists of the discipline, the class of cyclometallic compounds. The cyclic entity containing ruthenium is called a metallocycle. In a metallocycle, the metal is therefore bonded to both an organic ligand by a carbon-metal covalent bond and a donor-acceptor (acid-Lewis base, or coordination link) nitrogen-metal bond. The existence of a metallocycle in an organometallic molecule gives it particular properties in terms of reactivity and thermodynamic stability. Various types of carbons (aromatic, benzylic or aliphatic) can be metallated and the nature of the bond between the donor atom (nitrogen) and carbon can be varied in many ways.

According to a first aspect, the subject of the present invention is therefore a pharmaceutical composition comprising, in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, at least one ruthenium complex compound (II) of general formula (I) or (II) below:

(I) (H) formula (I) or (II) in which:

Li, L ₂ , L ₃ and L ₄ , which are identical or different, represent either a donor ligand of 2 electrons by a nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus or sulfur atom, or a halogen atom, R 1 represents a hydrogen atom or one or more substitutions on the phenyl group, selected from a (C1-6) alkyl and (C6-18) aryl radical,

Y is a counter-ion (when m = 1), m is 0 or 1, between C and N, represented by a curved line, there is a succession of atoms forming, with the carbon atoms, nitrogen and ruthenium represented on formulas (I) and (II), the metallocycle, which consists of 5 to 8 atoms (including the carbon, nitrogen and ruthenium atoms represented in formulas (I) and

(M)) -

The compounds of the invention may be in the form of pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates and / or prodrugs. The pro-drugs are variants of the compounds of the invention which can be converted in vivo into compounds of formula (I) or (II) according to the invention.

According to the invention, the term "alkyl" denotes a linear or branched hydrocarbon radical advantageously having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, neopentyl, n - hexyl, etc. Groups Ci-C ₄ are preferred. The alkyl groups may be substituted with an aryl group as defined below, in which case it is referred to as an arylalkyl group. Examples of arylalkyl groups include benzyl and phenethyl.

The "aryl" groups are mono-, bi- or tri-cyclic aromatic hydrocarbon systems, optionally interrupted by at least one heteroatom (in particular O, S or N). Preferably, the aryl groups include the systems monocyclic or bicyclic aromatic hydrocarbonaceous having 6 to 18 carbon atoms, more preferably 6 carbon atoms. Mention may be made, for example, of phenyl, naphthyl and biphenyl groups. When interrupted by hetero atoms, the aryl groups include pyridyl, imidazoyl, pyrrolyl and furanyl rings. The aryl groups may optionally have one or more substituents, chosen in particular from a halogen atom, an alkyl group as defined above, an alkoxy (-O-alkyl), thiol, thioether (-S-alkyl) radical, hydroxyl, nitro, cyano and ester (-CO ₂ -alkyl).

By "halogen" is meant a fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine atom. Advantageously, the halogen atom is chlorine.

Binding ligands of two electrons by a nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus or sulfur atom include, for example, H ₂ O, di ((C 1 _-6 ) alkyl) O, di ((C _1-6) ) alkyl) S, di ((C _1-6) alkyl) S (O), ((Ci _-6) alkyl) SO ₃ ^', di ((Ci ^) alkyl) C = O, (Ci _-6) alkylCO ₂ ^". other ligands include nitrile ligands, such as ligands of formula (Ci _-6) alkylCN (in particular CH ₃ CN) and pyridine ligands, possibly substituted, on one or more carbon atoms of the rings pyridine, with a (Ci _-6) alkyl or a halogen atom as defined above.

Among other ligands, primary amines there may be mentioned (Ci _-6) alkyl, such as methylamine or ethylamine.

Binding ligands of two electrons by a phosphorus atom include phosphine ligands. Advantageously, they are of formula P (Ph) _3-x (alkyl) _x , with x representing 0, 1 or 2 (preferably x represents 2) (Ph representing the phenyl group). Among these ligands, there may be mentioned P (Ph) (CHs) ₂ .

According to one particular embodiment, in the case of formula (II), at least two of the Li, L ₂ , L ₃ and L _{4 groups} , taken in pairs, may be connected by at least one covalent bond. In this context, mention may in particular be made of bipyridine or phenanthroline, optionally substituted, in particular with at least one alkyl radical as defined above. In the case of ligands giving two electrons by a phosphorus atom, mention may advantageously be made of bidentate ligands of formula PR ' ₂ (alkylidene) PR' ₂ , with R 'representing an alkyl or aryl (preferably phenyl) group and the alkylidene group including groups of the type C _n H _2n , or (CR ¹ R ² J _n , with n = 1 to 6 (preferably 2 or 3) and R 1 and R 2, identical or different, representing an alkyl or aryl group such as as defined above, the alkylidene group corresponding to the covalent link connecting at least two of the groups Li, L ₂ , L ₃ and L _4. In this context, there may be mentioned the bidentate ligand 1,2-bisdiphenylphosphinoethane.

Thus, preferably, the compounds of the invention have at least one group Li, L ₂ , L ₃ and L ₄ , representing a donor ligand of two electrons by a nitrogen or phosphorus atom, in particular a pyridine group. , phophine (eg, of formula P (Ph) ₃ -χ (alkyl) χ, as defined above), bipyridine or phenanthroline, said groups being optionally substituted.

According to another particular embodiment of the invention, in the case of formula (II), at least two of the groups Li, L ₂ , L ₃ and L ₄ represent nitrile ligands, for example ligands of formula (C). _-6- alkylCN (in particular CH ₃ CN).

According to another particular embodiment of the invention, in the case of formula (II), two of the groups Li, L ₂ , L ₃ and L ₄ represent nitrile ligands, for example ligands of formula (C _{1 6} ) alkylCN (in particular CH ₃ CN), and the other two ligands are linked by at least one covalent bond, advantageously such as those described above.

Y ^"in the compounds according to the invention is against an-ion and is only present in the compound when the ruthenium complex carries a positive charge. ^Y" is preferably a weakly nucleophilic anion, such as for example BF ₄ ^" , PFβ ^" , CF ₃ SO ₃ ^' , CF ₃ CO ₂ ^" , CH ₃ CO ₂ ^" and NO ₃ ^" , in particular PF ₆ ^" .

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, m is equal to 1.

The curved line represents, with the carbon, nitrogen and ruthenium atoms represented in formulas (I) and (II), the metallocycle. This metallocycle generally consists of 5 to 8 atoms (including the carbon, nitrogen and ruthenium atoms represented in formulas (I) and (H)). Typically, the atoms of the metallocycle (other than those represented in formulas (I) and (H)) are chosen from carbon, nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur atoms. Each of these atoms can independently of the metallocycle form linear or cyclic structures, saturated or not, for which there are no particular limitations.

Thus, among the structural units including a 5 or 6 atom metallocyclic ring (including the Ru, C and N atoms represented in formulas (I) and (H)), there may be mentioned:

Among other structures including a metallocyclic with 6 or 7 atoms, there may be mentioned in particular:

with R, identical or different, representing H or an alkyl radical, preferably methyl, and R 2 and R _3, identical or different, representing a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group as defined above alkoxy (-O-alkyl), thiol, thioether (-S-alkyl), hydroxyl, nitro, cyano and ester (-CO ₂ -alkyl) radicals. In the metallocycle (5), preferably R ₂ and R 3 are both CO ₂ Me and / or both R represent a methyl radical.

In the metallocycle (6), preferably R ₂ represents H and R ₃ a methyl radical (Me) and / or both R represent a methyl radical.

The present invention also relates to optical and geometric isomers, taken individually or as a mixture (in particular racemates), complex compounds of ruthenium (II).

Advantageously, the nitrogen atom of the metallocycle and represented in formulas (I) and (II) is not a nitrogen atom included in a benzodiazepine type structure, in particular the compounds described in Organometallics, vol. 21, 2002, pp 5437-5438.

According to one particular embodiment of the invention, the compounds according to the invention are not the following compounds (described in Organometallics, Vol 21, 2002, pp 1184-1189).

R = NMe ₂ , Me

Among the compounds of formula (I) or (II), there may be mentioned in particular the compounds shown in FIG. 8 (compounds numbered 3-6 and 8-29). In particular, the compounds numbered 9, 11, 12, 14-29 and, more particularly, the compounds 9, 11 and 12.

Thus, the subject of the invention is also compounds 9, 11, 12 and 14-29. Preferably, the compounds 9, 11, 12 and 28. These compounds can be used as medicaments and in particular to treat diseases related to cellular hyperproliferation, in particular cancers, as described in the present invention.

There are different synthetic routes for obtaining the compounds according to the invention. The most advantageous preparation process is the one that uses the reaction called cyclometallation. This reaction involves particular chemical properties on the part of the metals from which this reaction is observed. Certain transition metals are indeed capable of activating under a mild condition a CH bond through which they directly substitute the hydrogen atom to form the cyclometallic compound. Palladium is certainly the most commonly used metal for this type of reaction. Several journal articles (AD Ryabov, Chem Rev 1990, 90, 403-424) have been devoted to this reaction and the particular properties of the resulting compounds. For ruthenium compounds, a method for the preparation of these compounds has been published in Organometallics 1999, 18, 2390-2394. Other synthetic routes are also possible, especially when the direct CH activation reaction by the transition metal can not be implemented. In these cases, the nitrogenous organic ligand is metallized at carbon level by mercury (II) and the organomercury compound thus obtained can be transmetalled on the ruthenium compound (see J. Organometal Chem., 1995, 494, 187- 193, for mercury compounds, and Inorg Chim Acta 1996, 249, 63-67, for the transmetallation reaction).

Thus, the compounds of the present invention can be obtained from the families of compounds A and B described below.

B

In these families of compounds, the "metallocyclic" unit represents in particular and schematically the units (1) to (6) described above. The synthetic routes for obtaining these two families of compounds (A) or (B) (included respectively in formulas (I) and (II), with S representing an acetonitrile group NCCH ₃ ) are either the direct route called cyclometallation by activation of the ortho-CH bond of aryl, ie the pathway of transmetallation by an organomercury compound. The general scheme of synthesis of compounds A and B is summarized in the following diagram:

The compounds from families A and B with the various cyclometallic organic ligands can be modified by substituting one or two acetonitrile ligands with a monodentate ligand, respectively, such as a phosphine P (Ph) ₃ . _x (alkyl) _x , as defined above, which led to compounds of type C and D, or by a bidentate ligand such as a bipyridine or phenanthroline or the ligand phosphorus-containing bidentate, such as 1,2-bis-diphenylphosphinoethane, which led to the E-type compounds.

B D

- bipyridine, ph ^' nanthroline

There are many other compounds that contain the same metallocyclic structural unit. For example, it is indeed possible to convert the compounds of type A by reaction with an acetylenic (R ₂ CCR ₃ ) or an alkene (R ₂ CH = CH ₂ , with Ra and R ₃ , as defined previously. The compounds thus formed have a structure reminiscent of A but which has a metallocyclic group containing a larger number of atoms, 7 and 6 respectively.

Modified compounds include the following

The synthesis of these two compounds is described in Bull. Soc. Chim. Fr. 1997, 134, 947-954 and in Organometallics 2003, 22, 347-354. The same reactions as those leading to compounds C, D and E can be applied to these species and thus expand the number of compounds with anticancer properties.

As specified above, the compositions according to the invention are particularly advantageous for treating diseases related to cellular hyperproliferation, in particular cancers. Cancers include those with solid or liquid tumors. The cancers correspond in particular to glioblastomas, leukemias (promyelocytic), cancers of the prostate, ovaries, lungs, breasts, digestive tract, in particular liver, pancreas, head and neck, colon , bladder, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and melanoma.

The subject of the present invention is also the use of at least one compound of formula (I) or (II), as defined above, in the context of the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition intended to treat related diseases cell hyperproliferation, in particular cancers. The compounds according to the invention exhibit an antiproliferative effect vis-à-vis the tumor cells. They are particularly useful for treating cancers by accumulation of tumor cells in the G0 / G1 phase and possibly by induction of apoptosis in tumor cells.

Indeed, without wishing to be bound to any theory of the invention, the compounds according to the invention appear in particular capable of accumulating tumor cells in the G0 / G1 phase, and thus by blocking their cell cycle, but also seem capable of to generate their apoptosis rapidly, especially when their concentration is increased, indicating a dose-dependent toxicity.

In addition, the compounds according to the invention are particularly advantageous for treating tumors resistant to cisplatin or other anticancer drugs.

The compounds or compositions according to the invention can be administered in different ways and in different forms. Thus, they can be administered systemically, orally, by inhalation or by injection, for example intravenously, intramuscularly, subcutaneously, trans-dermally, intra-arterially, etc., the intravenous routes, intramuscular, subcutaneous, oral and inhalation being preferred. For injections, the compounds are generally packaged as liquid suspensions, which can be injected by means of syringes or infusions, for example. In this respect, the compounds are generally dissolved in saline, physiological, isotonic, buffered, etc. solutions compatible with pharmaceutical use and known to those skilled in the art. Thus, the compositions may contain one or more agents or vehicles chosen from dispersants, solubilizers, stabilizers, preservatives, etc. Agents or vehicles that can be used in liquid and / or injectable formulations include methylcellulose, hydroxymethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, polysorbate 80, mannitol, gelatin, lactose, vegetable oils, acacia, etc.

The compounds can also be administered in the form of gels, oils, tablets, suppositories, powders, capsules, aerosols, etc., possibly by means of dosage forms or devices providing sustained and / or delayed release. For this type of formulation, an agent such as cellulose, carbonates or starches is advantageously used.

It is understood that the flow rate and / or the injected dose may be adapted by those skilled in the art depending on the patient, the pathology concerned, the mode of administration, etc. Typically, the compounds are administered at doses ranging between 0.1 micrograms and 100 mg / kg of body weight, more generally from 0.01 to 10 mg / kg, typically between 0.1 and 10 mg / kg. In addition, repeated injections can be performed, if necessary. On the other hand, for chronic treatments, delayed or extended systems may be advantageous.

The invention also relates to a method for treating a pathology related to cellular hyperproliferation, in particular cancer, by administering to a subject suffering from such a pathology an effective amount of one of the compounds according to the invention. 'invention.

In the context of the invention, the term "treatment" refers to the preventive, curative and palliative treatment, as well as the management of the patients (reduction of the suffering, improvement of the lifespan, slowing of the progression of the disease , reduction of tumor growth, etc.). The treatment may also be carried out in combination with other chemical or physical agents or treatments (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, gene therapy, etc.). The treatments and medicaments of the invention are particularly intended for humans. Thus, the compounds according to the invention can be advantageously used in combination with an anti-cancer treatment implementing radiation, such as radiotherapy and brachytherapy. The radiation used is in particular X-rays, gamma rays, ionizing particles such as electrons, neutrons or carbon ions.

According to another aspect of the invention, the compounds according to the invention may be used with other chemical agents or therapeutic anti-cancer treatments, such as the following therapeutic chemical agents: cisplatin, carboplatin, NCS (Neocarzinostatin) , taxotere or taxol, advantageously NCS or taxol. The compounds according to the invention are preferably packaged and administered in a combined, separate or sequential manner with respect to other therapeutic agents or treatments.

It also relates to a method for inhibiting in vivo, in vitro or ex vivo the proliferation of tumor cells comprising contacting said tumor cells with one of the products according to the invention. The tumor cells may especially originate from the pathologies specified above.

LEGEND OF FIGURES

In the figures and examples which follow, the terms "CDR" or equivalent "RDC" mean "compound derived from ruthenium".

FIGURE 1 ; A172 cells were cultured in 96-well plates in DMEM medium with 10% serum this calf. At 30% confluency, the cells were treated for 48 hours with cisplatin or the various compounds derived from ruthenium at the indicated concentrations (1, 5, 15, 50 μM). The amount of cells present in the wells was evaluated by an MTT test (MTT, Sigma) whose reaction products are quantified with an Elisa plate reader (Metertech, USA) (490-650 nm). The results obtained were related to the values of the condition control (100% viability). The graphs are an average of 8 points with the standard deviations on one out of four representative experiments performed. The thick black line indicates the IC50 for each graph.

TABLE 2: Summary of results obtained on various cell lines and primary cultures of glia. The experiments were conducted under the same conditions as those described for A172 cells. Each IC50 is an indicative value obtained from 4 independent experiments.

FIG. 2: A- The A172 cells were grown on glass coverslips. At 50% confluency, the cells were treated for 24 hours with cisplatin,

CDR2 (25 μM) or CDR6 (15 μM). The cells were then fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde, permeated to 0.1% NP40 and labeled with the dye.

Hoechst (in blue) and the anti-p20 antibody (active fragment of caspase 3, in red).

The cells were then observed under a fluorescence microscope. B- Graphical representation of the number of cells with an apoptotic nucleus, fragmented or condensed. The bars are an average of two slats of a representative experiment out of 3 carried out. C. In parallel, protein extracts were prepared from cells treated with the various drugs (cisplatin 15 μM, CDR2 25 μM, CDR6 15 μM, CDR9 15 μM) and after denaturation the extracts were deposited on a gel SDS-Page 10%. After migration, the proteins were transferred to nitrocellulose (Biorad, 0.2μm) and the p20 fragment of caspase 3 was detected by Western blotting with an anti-p20 antibody (1/1000, R & D System).

FIGURE 3: Detection of p53 and p73 in CDR-treated A172 cells. A172 cells were treated at the indicated concentrations (2, 5 or 10 μM) with the various compounds and for the indicated times (24 h or 6 h). The proteins were extracted with lysis buffer and were separated on SDS-PAGE gel.

After transfer to nitrocellulose, the p53 and p73 proteins were detected by

Western blot using anti-p53 (pAb1801) and anti-p73 (1/200, Ab2, Oncogene) antibodies. FIGURE 4: Detection of p21 and Bax in CDR-treated A172 cells. A172 cells were treated with the various compounds (10 μM) for 24 h. The proteins were extracted with lysis buffer and were separated on SDS-PAGE gel. After transfer on nitrocellulose, the p21 and Bax proteins were detected by Western blotting using antibodies to p21 (1/200, Oncogene) and anti-Bax (1/2000, Santacruz).

FIGURE 5: Detection of p53, p21 and histone H3 phosphorylation in CDR-treated HCT116 cells. The HCT116 cells were treated with the various compounds (10 μM) and for the durations indicated (24 h or 6 h). The proteins were extracted with lysis buffer and separated on SDS-Page gel.

10%. After transfer to nitrocellulose, the p53, p21 and histone H3 proteins were detected by Western blotting with the aid of antibodies to p53 (pAb1801), anti-p21 (1/200, Oncogene) and anti-phospho-serine 10 histone H3 (1/2000, Santacruz).

FIGURE 6: The cells 2008 / CMV and 2008 / ATP7B (a Dr. Howell donation) were cultured in 96-well plates in DMEM medium with 10% calf serum. At 30% confluency, the cells were treated for 48 hours with cisplatin or the various compounds derived from ruthenium at the indicated concentrations (1, 5, 15, 50 μM). The amount of cells present in the wells was evaluated by an MTT test (MTT, Sigma). The results obtained were related to the values of the control condition (100% viability). The graphs are an average of 8 points with the standard deviations on a representative experiment out of 3 carried out. The thick black line indicates the IC50 for each graph.

FIGURE 7: A172 cells were cultured in 96 well plates in medium

DMEM with 10% serum this calf. At 30% confluency, the cells were treated for 48 hours with cisplatin, CDR6, NCS (Neocarzinostatin), Taxol or a combination of these drugs at the indicated concentrations. The The amount of cells present in the wells was evaluated by an MTT test (MTT, Sigma) whose reaction products are quantified with an Elisa plate reader (Metertech, USA) (490-650 nm). The results obtained were related to the values of the control condition (100% viability). The graphs are an average of 8 points with the standard deviations on one out of four representative experiments performed. The thick black line indicates the IC50 for each graph.

FIG. 8: Examples of compounds of formula (I) or (II), with the exception of compounds numbered 1 and 2 which are presented by way of reference.

FIGURE 9: Effect of an irradiation (4 Gy), a treatment with RDC-11 (RDC-11 / Nl) and the association "irradiation + RDC-11" (RDC-11/4 Gy) on the proliferation of RDM4 cells in culture.

FIGURE 10: Percentage of RDC-11-induced RDM4 cell apoptosis (RDC-11), fast neutron irradiation (4 Gy), or combination of both treatments (4 Gy + RDC-11) ), three days after the start of treatment. The analysis was performed by flow cytometry, after labeling the cells with propidium iodide.

FIGURE 11: Percent viability of HCT-116 cells in the presence of RDC-11, RDC-24 and RDC-23 or Cisplatin at different concentrations.

FIGURE 12: Mean volume (mm ³ ) of apparent tumors of U-87 cells (human glioblastoma) grafted onto SWISS nu / nu athymic mice as a function of time (days) after the start of treatment with RDC-11 or D-D PBS (control).

FIGURE 13; Evolution of average weights of SWISS mice grafted with U-87 cells (human glioblastoma) as a function of time (days) after the start of treatment with RDC-11 or D-PBS (control). FIGURE 14: Weight of tumors (after dissection) of SWISS mice grafted with U-87 cells (human glioblastoma) after treatment with RDC-11 or D-PBS (control).

Other aspects and advantages of the present application will appear on reading the examples which follow, which should be considered as illustrative and not limiting.

EXAMPLES

1- PROCESSES FOR SYNTHESIZING COMPOUNDS ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION: The cyclometallic compounds of ruthenium (II) are sensitive to oxygen in the air and to acids. All solvents should therefore be thoroughly dried and deoxygenated before use. The manipulations are done in a controlled atmosphere (nitrogen or argon) using the schlenks tube technique.

Synthesis of Compound 5 (from Organometallics, 1999, 18, 2390):

Was added N ₁ N dimethylaminomethylbenzene (0.120 mL, 0. 8 mmol), NaOH (0.031 g, 0.8 mmol), and KPF6 (0.292 g, 1.6 mmol) to a suspension of [(η ⁶ - CeH ₆₎ RuCl _2] 2 (0.2 g, 0.4 mmol) in acetonitrile (5 mL) at 20 ^° C. for 3 days. The yellow solution thus obtained is then filtered (chromatographed) on standardized alumina (12 × 3 cm) with acetonitrile as eluent. The yellow fraction is collected which is dried under vacuum. The residue obtained is redissolved in a minimum of acetonitrile (2 ml). The addition of ethyl ether to this solution causes the crystallization of a bright yellow product which is the expected compound (yield 0.32 g,

%).

Synthesis of compound 6 [Ru (η ⁶ -C ₆ H ₆ ) -2- (CH 2 NMe 2) -C ₆ H ₄ - (PMe ₂ Ph)] mp ₆ : PMe ₂ Ph (0.019 ml, 0.162 mmol) is added to a yellow solution of the complex (0, 08g, 0.156 mmol) in CH ₂ Cl ₂ (10mL) and the resulting solution is stirred at room temperature for 3 hours. The solvent is evaporated under vacuum and the resulting residue is dissolved in a minimum of CH ₂ Cl ₂ (1 mL). The addition of n-hexane causes the precipitation of the complex 6 (yield: 0.09 g, 95%). Elemental analysis. Calculated for C ₂ H ₃ NF ₆ P ₂ Ru + 1/2 CH ₂ Cl ₂ : C, 44.13; ₁ H 4.69; N, 2.19. Found: C, 44.30, H, 4.59; N, 2.16.

¹ H NMR (CD ₃ CN): 7.75 (dt, 1H, H6, ³ J = 7.5), 7.39 (tdd, 1H, p, ³ J = 7.5, ⁴ J = U), 7.22 (td, 2H, m , ³ J = 8.0, ⁴ J = 2.0), 7.08 (tdd, 1H, H4 or H5, ³ J = 7.1), 7.00-6.88 (m, 3H, o and H4 or H5), 6.72 (d, 1H, H3 , ³ J = 7.5), 5.74 (d, 6H, C ₆ H _6, ³ JHP = 1.1), 2.85 and 2.43 ((AB, 2H, ² J = I 4.5), 2.77 (d, 3H, NMe, ⁴ J _H p = 1.1), 2.66 (s, 3H, NMe), 1.99 (d, 3H, PMe, ² J = 9.3), 1.50 (d, 3H, PMe, ² J = 9.7) ³¹ P NMR (CD ₃ CN) ): 6.37 (s, 1P, PMe ₂ ), -142.97 (Sep, 1P, PF ₆ , ¹ J = 711).

Synthesis of compound 8 (from Organometallics, 1999, 18, 2390): 2-Phenylpyridine (6.02 mmol), NaOH (0.48 g, 6.02 mmol) and KPF ₆ (2.22 g) are added , 12.04 mmol) to a suspension of [(eta ^δ -C ₆ H ₆₎ RuCl _{2] 2} (1, 5 g, 3.01 mmol) in acetonitrile (5OmL) at 45 ⁰ C for 2Oh. The solvent is then evaporated under vacuum and the residue obtained is chromatographed on a column of alumina standardized with acetonitrile as eluent. The yellow band is collected and dried under vacuum. This residue is dissolved in a mixture of acetonitrile and dichloromethane (1: 1); the slow diffusion of ethyl ether in this solution makes it possible to obtain the compound 8 in the form of bright yellow crystals (68% yield).

Synthesis of 9

[Ru (C ₆ H ₄ -2-C ₅ H ₄ N) (PMe ₂ Ph) (NCMe) ₃ ] mp ₆ 9: PMe ₂ Ph (0.031 mL, 0.22 mmol) is added to a yellow solution of the complex 8 (0.124 g, 0.22 mmol) in CH ₃ CN (5 mL) and the resulting solution is stirred at room temperature for 18 hours. The yellow-green solution is filtered on alumina with acetonitrile as eluent. The yellow fraction is harvested and concentrated under vacuum. The powder obtained is dissolved in a minimum of acetonitrile and ethyl ether. (1: 1). The addition of n-hexane causes the precipitation of compound 9 as a yellow powder (yield: 0.122 g, 84%). Elemental analysis: Calculated for C ₂ SH ₂ SN ₄ F ₆ P ₂ Ru: C, 45.39, H, 4.27, N, 8.47. found: C, 45.35, H, 4.49, N, 8.33.

¹ H NMR (CD ₃ CN): 8.39 (ddd, 1H ₁ H12, ³ J = 5.8, ⁴ J = 1.6, ⁵ J = 0.8), 8.08 (dddd, 1H, H6, ³ J = 7.1, ⁴ J _H p = 4.7, ⁴ J = 1.3, ⁵ J = 0.5), 7.89 (d, 1H, H9, ³ J = 8.1), 7.80 (d, 1H, H3, ³ J = 7.8), 7.71-7.63 (m, 3H, H10 and o), 7.53-7.49 (m, 2H, m), 7.44 (t, 1H, p, ³ J = 7.4), 7.20 (td, 1H, H5, ³ J = 7.3, ⁴ J = 1.4), 7.06 (td, 1H, H4, ³ J = 7.5, ⁴ J = 1.4), 6.92 (ddd, 1H, H11, ³ J = 7.3, ³ J = 5.8, ⁴ J = 1.5), 2.33 (d, 3H, NCMe, ⁵ J _H p = 1.7), 1.97 (d, 3H, NCMe, ⁵ JH _P = 1.8), 1.86 (d, 6H, PMe _2, ² J _H p = 5.8).

¹³ C NMR ( ¹ H) (CD ₃ CN): 185.5 (C1), 170.2 (C8), 156.6 (C12), 147.1 (C2), 138.0 (C6), 137.5 (C10), 131.0 (Co), 129.7 ( cm), 129.3 and 129.2 (C 5 and C p), 124.4 (C 4 and C ipso), 123.6 (NCME), 122.9 (C4), 122.3 (C11), 119.4 (C9), 13.55 and 13.41 (SMEs _2), 4.31 and 3.99 (NCMe).

³¹ P NMR (CD ₃ CN): -7.08 (s, 1P, PMe _2), -144.40 (sept, 1P, PF _6, ¹ J = 704.6).

Synthesis of compound 11

[Ru (C ₆ H ₄ -2-C ₅ H ₄ N) (phenXNCMe) 2] PF 6 11: phenanthroline (0.032 g, 0.178 mmol) is added to compound 8 (0.1 g, 0.178 mmol) dissolved in CH ₂ CI ₂ (13 mL). The solution is stirred at room temperature. during 2 days, the evolution of the reaction being monitored by proton NMR. The solvent is then evaporated under vacuum and the residue is dissolved in the minimum of acetonitrile / CH ₂ Cl ₂ (1: 1) and n-hexane (20 mL) and this solution is left standing for 3 days. The product 11 is obtained in the form of dark brown crystals (yield: 0.099 g, 84%). Elemental analysis: Calculated for C ₂₇ H ₂₂ N ₅ F ₆ PRu: C, 48.95, H, 3.35, N, 10.57. found: C, 48.00, H, 3.58, N, 10.60.

¹ H NMR (CD ₃ CN): 9.72 (dd, 1H, H14, ³ J = 5.0, ⁴ J = 1.5), 8.72 (dd, 1H, H16, ³ J = 8.2, ⁴ J = 1.4), 8.30 (dd , 1H, H23, ³ J = 7.4, ⁴ J = 1.3), 8.22 (m, 1H, H18), 8.20-8.17 (m, 2H, H15 and H11), 8.15 (dd, 1H, H12, ³ J = 5.3 , ⁴ J = 1.4), 8.03 (d, 1H, H19, ³ J = 8.9), 7.88 (dd, 1H, H9, ³ J = 7.8, ⁴ J = 1.2), 7.84 (d, 1H, H6, ³ J = 8.1), 7.48 (ddd, 1H, H5, ³ J = 8.1, ³ J = 7.4, ⁴ J = I .6), 7.37 (dd, 1H, MB ₁ ³ J = 8.1, ³ J = 5.4), 7.34 (ddd, 1H, H3, J ³ = 5.7, ⁴ J = I .6, J = ⁵ 0.8), 7.30 (dd, 1H, H21, ³ J = 7.3, ⁴ J = 1.3), 7.11 (dd, 1H, H22, ³ J = 7.7, ³ J = 7.2), 6.58 (ddd, 1H, H4, ³ J = 7.3, ³ J = 5.8, ⁴ J = 1.5), 2.29 (s, 3H, NCMe), 2.07 (s, 3H, NCMe).

¹³ C NMR ^{1 H} (CD ₃ CN): 192.6 (C1), 169.5 (C8), 156.1 (C15), 152.0 (C3), 151.5 (C14), 150.7 (C2), 147.4 and 146.8 (C26 and C25 ), 139.0 (C23), 136.5 (C16), 136.4 (C5), 135 (C18), 131.3 and 131.1 (C20 and C17), 129.2 (C21), 128.4 (C12), 128.3 (C19), 126.8 (C11) , 125.1 (C10), 124.7 (C9), 125.5 and 122.7 (NCMe), 121.9 (C4), 121.5 (C22), 118.8 (C6), 4.40 and 4.01 (NCMe).

Synthesis of compound 12:

[Ru (C ₅ C6H4-2-H4N) (4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine) (NCMe) _2] PF 6 12: was added 4,4'-diMe-2,2'-bipyridine (0.032g, 0.181 mmol) to compound 8 (0.102g, 0.181mmol) dissolved in CH ₂ Cl ₂ (13ml). The solution is stirred at ambient temperature for 2 days, the evolution of the reaction being followed by proton NMR. The solvent is then evaporated under vacuum and the residue is dissolved in the minimum of acetonitrile / Et ₂ O (1: 1) and n-hexane (30 mL) and this solution is left standing for 3 days. The product 11 is obtained in the form of dark brown crystals Anal. Calcd. for C ₂₇ H ₂₆ N ₅ F ₆ PRu C, 48.65, H, 3.93, N, 10.51. found: C, 48.83, H, 4.32, N, 10.30.

¹ H NMR (CD ₃ CN): 9.18 (d, 1H, H14, ³ J = 5.5), 8.30 (s, 1H, H16), 8.21 (ddd, 1H, H6, ³ J = 7.4, ⁴ J = I. 3, ⁵ J = 0.5), 8.09 (s, 1H, H17), 7.85-7.81 (m, 2H, H9 and H12), 7.68-7.66 (m, 2H, H15 and H19), 7.52 (ddd, 1H, MO , ³ J = 8.2, ³ J = 7.4, ⁴ J = I .6), 7.44 (ddd, 1H, H3, J ³ = 5.7, ⁴ J = I .6, ⁵ J = 0.8), 7.24 (td, 1H ₁ M 1, ³ J = 7.3, ⁴ J = 1 .3), 7.05 (ddd, 1H, H5, ³ J = 7.7, ³ J = 7.2, ⁴ J = I.3), 6.85 (dd, 1H, H 18, ³ J = 5.9, ⁴ J = 1 .8), 6.73 (ddd, 1H, H4, ³ J = 7.3, ³ J = 5.7, ⁴ J = 1.5), 2.64 and 2.34 (2s, 6H, CH ₃ ), 2.21 and 2.19 (2s, 6H, NCMe).

Synthesis of compound 13 [Ru-2- (CH ₂ NMe ₂ ) -C ₆ H ₄ - (bipy) (NCMe) ₂ ] mp ₆ One equivalent of 2,2'-bipyridine is added to a solution of 5 (0.1 g) in 15 mL of acetonitrile. The mixture is stirred for 24 hours. The purple solution obtained is evaporated under vacuum and the residue is chromatographed on a column of alumina with acetonitrile as eluent. The dark purple band is collected and evaporated under vacuum. The compound 13 is obtained in the form of dark purple crystals by diffusing ethyl ether in a solution of 13 dissolved in the minimum of dichloromethane / acetonitrile (1: 1) (yield: 53%). Elemental analysis: Calculated for 0 ₂₉ H ₃₈ N ₅ F ₆ PRu: C, 49.57, H, 5.45, N, 9.97. found: C, 49.21, H, 5.60, N, 9.62. ¹ H NMR (CD ₃ CN): 9.52 (dd, 1H, ³ J 6.0, ⁴ J 1.6, H2 "), 8.69 (dd, 1H, ³ J 5.5, ⁴ J 1.1, H2 ^1), 8.65 (d, 1H ³ , 8.2, H "), 8.53 (d, 1H, ³ J 7.7, H ⁵ '), 8.17 (td, 1H, ³ J 7.7, ⁴ J 1.1, H ⁴ "), 7.92 (td, 1H, ³ J 8.2 , ⁴ J 1.6, H4 '), 7.86 - 7.80 (m, 2H, H3 ^m + H5), 7.36 (ddd, 1H, ³ J 7.1, ³ J 6.0, ⁴ J 1.6, H3'), 7.08 (td, 1 H, ³ J 7.1, ⁴ J 1.1, H4), 7.00 (d, 1H ₁ ³ J 7.2, H2), 6.85 (td, 1H, ³ J 7.1, ⁴ J 1.1, H3), 3.88 (d, 1H, ² J 13.8, CH ₂ ), 3.30 (d, 1H, ² J 13.8, CH ₂ ), 2.45 (s, 3H, NCMe), 2.18 (s, 3H, NMe ₂ ), 2.07 (s, 3H, NCMe), 1.36. (s, 3H, NMe ₂ ).

¹³ C NMR (CD ₃ CN): 168.46, 159.49, 155.80, 153.17 (C2 ^J ), 150.65 (C2-), 148.03, 137.61 (C5), 135.96 (C4-), 134.96 (C4 ¹ ), 126.52 (C3-6); ), 125.43 (C3 ^1), 125.28 (C4), 122.82 (C5 ^1), 122.60 (C5 "), 120.76 (C2), 120.27 (C3), 118.03, 73.02 (CH _2), 52.00 (NMe _2), 50.46 (NMe ₂ ), 4.00 (NCMe), 3.16 (NCME).

Synthesis of compounds 14 to 25:

Compounds 14 to 25 were obtained by a method analogous to that used for the synthesis of 13. Initially compounds analogous to compound 5 were obtained using instead of N ₁ N dimethylaminomethylbenzene the corresponding substituted ligand. In a second step, these compounds were treated with 2,2'-bipyridine as in the example above, the yields are similar to those obtained for 13. Synthesis of compound 26

The compound [(η ⁶ -C ₆ H ₆ ) Ru (C ₆ H ₄ -2 -CHCH ₃ NMe 2) (NCMe)] PF _{6 is} synthesized by a method analogous to that used to synthesize compound 5. In this protocol, we substitute N ₁ N dimethylaminomethylbenzene by (R) (1,1-phenylethyldimethylamine) (0.8 mmol) and one operates exactly as for the synthesis of 5, the yields being the same. 2,2'-Bipyridine (0.030 g, 0.19 mmol) is then added to a solution of [(η ⁶ -C ₆ H ₆ ) Ru (C ₆ H ₄ -2-CHCH ₃ NMe ₂ ) (NCMe)] PF ₆ in 15 mL of acetonitrile. The resulting purple solution is stirred for 12 hours. The solvent is then evaporated under vacuum and the compound 26 is purified by means of chromatography on alumina, the eluent being dichoromethane. The purple band is collected and evaporated under vacuum. The slow diffusion of diethyl ether in a solution of the residue obtained after this last operation in CH ₂ Cl ₂ : MeCN (1: 1) makes it possible to obtain 26 in the form of purple crystals with a yield of 53% (0.064 g) ¹ H-NMR (CD ₃ CN) δ: 9.33 (ddd, 1H, H6 ^'3 J = 5.3, ⁴ J = 1.5, ⁵ J = 0.7), 8.44 (d, 1H, H3' ³ J = 8.2), 8.31 ( d, 1H, H6 ^"3 J = 7.9), 8.18 (ddd, 1H, H6 ³ J = 5.6, ⁴ J = 1.5, ⁵ J = 0.6), 8.08 (ddd, 1H, H4 ^'3 J = 9.15, ³ J = 7.6, ⁴ J = 1.5), 7.79 (m, 2H, H5- and H4), 7.73 (ddd, 1H, H5 ^-3 J = 7.5, ³ J = 5.2, ⁴ J = 1.1), 7.17 (ddd, 1H) , H5 ³ J = 7.3, ⁴ J = 1.4), 7.07 (m, 1H, H4-), 6.92 (m, 2H, H3 and H3-), 3.40 (q, 1H ₁ CH ³ J = 6.6), 2.41 ( s, 3H, CH ₃ CN), 2.04 (s, 3H, NCH ₃ ), 1.96 (s, 3H, CH ₃ CN), 1.49 (s, 3H, NCH ₃ ), 1.18 (d, 3H, CH ₃ ^3). = 6.7).

Anal. CAIC. for C ₂₄ H ₂₈ N ₅ F ₆ PR: C, 45.57, H, 4.46, N, 11.07. Found: C, 45.59, H, 4.51, N, 10.93.

Compound 27 is obtained in the same way by substituting (R) (1,1-phenylethyldimethylamine) for (S) (1,1-phenylethyldimethylamine).

Synthesis of compound 28

1,2-bis, diphenylphosphinoethane ((P (C ₆ H ₅ ) ₂ CH ₂ CH ₂ P (C ₆ H ₅ ) ₂ ) (0.141 g,

0.35 mmol) to a solution of compound 8 (0.2 g, 0.35 mmol) in methanol (30 mL). This yellow solution is stirred and heated at reflux of methanol for 19 h. The methanol is then evaporated under vacuum and the compound 28 is purified by chromatography on alumina, the eluent being CH ₂ Cl ₂ . The yellow fraction is collected, concentrated under vacuum, the addition of diethyl ether causing the precipitation of the expected product which is then washed three times with ethyl ether (yield 46%, 0.143 g). ¹ H-NMR (CD ₃ CN) δ: 8.94 (m, 1H, H6), 8.07 (d, 1H ₁ H12 ³ J = 8.2), 7.95-7.84 (m, 3H, H9, H3 and H10), 7.64- 7.36 (m, 2OH, PPh ₂ ), 7.07-7.01 (m, 2H, H 5 and H 4), 6.88 (ddd, 1H, ³ J = 7.3, H ¹¹ J = 6.0, ⁴ J = 1.3), 2.69 (m, 4H, CH _2), 1.50 (d, 6H, ⁵ J _HP = 1.1 Hz, CH ₃ CN). ³¹ P-NMR (CD ₃ CN) δ: 68.41 (s, PPh ₂ ), 43.64 (s, PPh ₂ ), -143.3 (Sep, PF ₆ ).

Synthesis of 29

Triphenylphosphine (0.186 g, 0.71 mmol) is added to a solution of compound 8

(0.2 g, 0.35 mmol) in methanol (30 ml). This yellow solution is stirred and heated at reflux of methanol for 72 h. The methanol is then evaporated under vacuum and the compound 29 is purified by chromatography on alumina, the eluent being the

CH ₂ CI ₂ . The yellow fraction is collected and dried under vacuum. The resulting solid is dissolved in a mixture of CH ₂ Cl ₂ : MeCN (1: 1) to which the addition of diethyl ether causes the crystallization of 29 (yield 37%, 0.131 g).

¹ H-NMR (CD ₃ CN) δ: 7.95 (dd, 1H, H ⁶ J = 5.9, ⁴ J = 0.7), 7.52 (m, 1H, H 12), 7.4-7.0 (m, 33H, 0, m, p PPh ₃ , H10, H9 and H3), 6.75 (ddd, 1H, H5 or H4 ³ J = 8.2, ³ J = 7.9),

6.67 (ddd, 1H, H4 or H5 ³ J = 8.1, ⁴ J = 1.5), 6.47 (ddd, 1H, H11 ³ J = 8.1), 2.14 (s, 3H,

CH ₃ CN), 1.96 (s, 3H, CH ₃ CN).

³¹ P-NMR (CD ₃ CN) δ: 35.3 (s, PPh ₃ ), -143.4 (sep, mp ₆ ).

Anal. CAIC. for C ₅₁ H ₄₄ N ₃ F ₆ P ₃ Ru: C, 60.83, H, 4.40, N, 4.17. Found: C, 61.15, H, 4.54, N, 4.46.

2. TEST OF PROLIFERATION OF COMPOUNDS ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION ON TUMOR CELLULAR LINES

cells The products are tested on different cell lines. The cells used are RDM4 from murine T-cell lymphoma and a MOLT-4 line from acute lymphoblastic leukemia. These cancerous lines both express the p53 protein, unlike HL-60 cells from human promyelocytic leukemia where, following a deletion of its gene, p53 is absent.

The influence of p53 protein in product-induced effects was determined using the TK6 (wild-type p53) human lymphoblastoid line and its NH32 variant whose p53 gene was completely inactivated by double homologous recombination (Chuang et al., 1999). ). TK6 cells are from the American Tissue Culture Collection (ATGC, Manassas, VA, USA). NH32 cells were provided by H. L. Liber (Chuang et al, 1999).

All of these cells are cultured in RPMI 1640-Glutamax, supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated fetal calf serum at 56 ° C for 30 minutes, 1mM sodium pyruvate, 1mM non-essential amino acids and 50μg / mL. of gentamycin (Life Technologies, Cergy Pontoise, France). The cultures are maintained in an incubator at 37 ° C with an atmosphere saturated with moisture at 5% CO ₂ . The concentration and the viability of the cells are determined by Trypan blue exclusion assay (Sigma-Aldrich, France) and the cell density is maintained at a concentration of less than 10 ⁶ cells / ml.

Proliferation test

This test uses the UptiBlue reagent (Interchim, Montluçon, France), metabolized by living cells. The cells are incubated in 96 well plates at 10 ⁴ cells / well (200 μL) with the product and cultured for 72 hours. Then 20μL of UptiBlue are added to each well. After incubation for 3 hours, the fluorescence of the samples contained in the plates is measured at 590 nm (excitation at 560 nm), using a Fluorolite 1000 microplate reader (Dynex Technologies, Issy-Les-Moulineaux, France). ). RESULTS

The results are collated in the following Table 1.

Table 1

Compound 9 on other cell lines gives the following IC.sub.50 (NH.sub.2 O): 3; 9 (Molt-4): 3.8; 9 (WTK1): 3; 9 (U-937): 3.

RDM4: lymphoma, AKR mice

TK6: human lymphoblastoid line

NH32: variant of TK6, not expressing p53 ("p53 knockout") WTK1: another variant of TK6, expressing a mutated p53 gene MOLT-4: human T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia U-937: human promonocytic leukemia

- Proliferation test of the RDM4 line with each compound

The selection of potential anti-cancer drugs is made, initially, on the RDM4 line. The effect of various organo-ruthenic compounds on cell viability is first determined by a proliferation test as a function of product concentration. The activity of compounds derived from Ru is compared to that of cisplatin. The exposure of RDM4 cells to these derivatives results in a dose-dependent decrease in their proliferation. The effect therefore depends on the organic complex that surrounds the Ru nucleus. The growth inhibition concentration of 50% of the cells (IC50) is determined for each of the products. Of all the compounds tested, compounds 9 and 11 appear to be the most active with an IC 50 of between 10 and 15 μM. The ruthenium derivatives showing a too high IC50 (> 50 μM) were eliminated from the biological study

Measurement of apoptosis by annexin-V labeling on RDM4 treated with complexes 9 and 11 The measurement of cell death is made by a first specific labeling of apoptosis. The externalization of anionic phospholipids, normally located on the inner sheet of the plasma membrane, is one of the early markers of apoptosis (Martin et al, 1996). Annexin-V is a protein that binds specifically to phosphatidyl serines in the presence of calcium. When annexin-V is coupled to a fluorochrome, it makes it possible to quantify apoptotic cells by flow cytometry.

The cells are labeled after 24h, 48h and 72h of treatment with the products 9 and 11 at two different concentrations: the IC50 (15 μM) and a higher concentration which guarantees a significant inhibition of proliferation (45 μM). The control cells are treated with the volume equivalent of solvent (ethanol). The the

treatment with 15μM of product shows no effect. After 72h, the rate of apoptosis is still as low as that of the control cells. On the other hand, with the treatment at 45 μM, this level already reaches 70% at 24 h and exceeds 99% after 48 h, sign of a significant induction of apoptosis.

- Measurement of the fragmentation of DNA by labeling with propidium iodide on RDM4 treated with complexes 9 and 11

A second specific labeling of apoptosis is the fragmentation of DNA between nucleosomes. The fragmented DNA is found in apoptotic bodies in the terminal phase of apoptosis. This DNA is hypodiploid and therefore less than that present in normal cells. It can be quantified by flow cytometry after permeabilization of the cell membrane and IP labeling. The amount of DNA in a normal cell is 2n in G0 / G1 phase and 4n in G2 phase. Sub-GO DNA of less than 2n therefore has a lower fluorescence intensity.

Cells treated with 15 μM of product have an accumulation in G0 / G1 phase during the first two days of the experiment. This phenomenon tends to fade after 48 hours of treatment. On the other hand, when the cells are treated at 45 μM, the formation of the hypodiploid particles, visualized by the sub-GO DNA content, is less than 10% at 24 hours and exceeds 50% at 48 hours to reach 60% at 72 hours. DNA fragmentation shows that product-induced apoptosis occurs rapidly. The amount of hypodiploid particles in the control cells remains less than 4% during this same period.

The two organo-ruthenic complexes exhibiting an antiproliferative effect are able to accumulate RDM4 cells in the G0 / G1 phase, but also to generate their apoptosis rapidly at a higher concentration sign of a dose-dependent toxicity.

3. APOPTOSIS AND P53 PROTEIN The role of the p53 protein is central in the management of apoptosis and the induction of cell blockade. In the event of cellular DNA damage, this protein is a transcription factor that regulates the expression of other proteins involved in cycle blockade, DNA repair and induction of apoptosis (Alarcon -Vargas & Ronai, 2002).

- Comparative effects of complex 11 and cisplatin on the proliferation of MOLT-4 and HL-60 lines

MOLT-4 cells possess the p53 gene which is deleted by deletion in HL-60. The results of the proliferation tests compared show that the product 11 and cisplatin have different effects on the proliferative activity of these lines. Cisplatin decreased the proliferation of MOLT-4 cells more significantly (IC50 <0.5μM) than that of HL-60 p53 deficient (human promyelocytic leukemia) (IC50 = 1μM). This sensitivity is reversed with the Ru complex. Inhibition of Ru-induced growth is more important for HL-60 than for MOLT-4. The latter, which have a normal p53 gene, are less sensitive to the Ru complex. The difference in proliferation in the presence of cisplatin could be explained by a delay in the onset of apoptosis in HL-60 cells compared to MOLT-4 with the activation of a secondary pathway independent of the p53 protein (Coelho et al. , 2002). In the case of the treatment with the organo-ruthenic product 11, this sensitivity variation can be attributed to the p53 status in the cell or to the difference of the cell type.

- Comparative effects of complex 11 and cisplatin on the proliferation of TK6 and NH32 lines

The role of the p53 protein on cell proliferation in the presence of complex 11 and cisplatin is also studied on other cell lines: TK6 human lymphoblastoid cells (wild-type p53) and their NH32 variants (p53 - / -). The proliferation curves of the two cell types can be superimposed. Variation in the status of the p53 protein does not seem to have any effect on the action anti-proliferative complex of Ru. On the other hand, cisplatin causes a greater effect on the p53 + / + cells than on the p53 deficient cells. p53 therefore plays a role in the inhibitory power of cisplatin. However, the antiproliferative action of cisplatin is less important than that of complex 11.

Measurement of Apoptosis by Annexin-V Labeling on TK6 and NH32 Cells Treated with Complex 11

The toxicity of the organo-ruthenic complex on lymphoblastoid cells TK6 and NH32 is measured with Annexin-V, a marker specific for early apoptosis. This labeling is performed on cells treated with derivative 11 at 1.5 μM after Oh, 24h, 48h, 72h and 96h. The results show that phosphatidyl-serine extemalisation exceeds 50% at 48h and reaches 90% after 72h of continuous treatment. After 72h, apoptosis reaches the maximum limit of 90% and forms a plateau. In control cells, the rate of apoptosis remains below 10% throughout the experiment. The increase over time of the extemalisation of the anionic phospholipids is similar in both cell lines, but the TK6 cells enter apoptosis with a delay of a dozen hours on their p53 deficient variants. The NH32 line reaches the plateau limit of 90% earlier than TK6 cells. The p53 protein appears to delay activation of the early signs of apoptosis induced by Ru complexes.

4. CHIMIO-RADIOTHERAPEUTIC ASSOCIATION

The IC.sub.50 of cisplatin and of the organo-ruthenium complex 11 measured on the RDM.sub.4s are approximately 0.7 .mu.m and 15 .mu.m, respectively. Cells of this same line are treated with concentrations of 0.7 μM cisplatin and 15 μM complex 11. 24 hours after the start of treatment, the cells are irradiated at 4 Gy with fast neutrons. The effects of chemo-radiotherapeutic combination are then determined by simple cell counting by measuring the concentration of cells in the medium during the treatment at 24h, 72h and 168h after irradiation. Non-irradiated, treated and untreated samples all have exponential proliferation. This growth is slowed by the addition of organometallic chemical complexes. The 0.7 μM cisplatin inhibits proliferation more efficiently than the ruthenium derivative at 10 μM. The chemo-radiotherapeutic combination increases the effectiveness of the chemical compounds and shows a greater effect than a simple addition of the effects of the ionizing radiations and the complexes taken separately. The curve of the ruthenium derivative 11 alone is superimposed on that of the control cells. The antiproliferative effect of this complex at this concentration is negligible. But the addition of ionizing radiation to this product causes a radical effect making the cell proliferation virtually nil during the duration of the experiment. This observation is not so important with cisplatin, which, when used alone, has a greater cytostatic effect than that of the complex 11.

- Evaluation of the effects of a combined treatment "ionizing radiation + DRC-11" on the proliferation and survival of murine RDM4 cells. These cells come from an AKR mouse lymphoma. The different tests were performed in vitro, and five independent experiments were performed. The radiations used were fast neutrons from the collision of 65 MeV protons on a Beryllium target (produced at the Louvain la Neuve cyclotron (LLN) in Belgium.) The results of only one of these experiments, which is representative of a set of three experiments made with this type of radiation are presented, similar results have been observed with X-rays (produced at the Paul Strauss Center, Strasbourg), and carbon ions (produced at GANIL, Caen).

Experimental protocol

The RDM4 cells are adjusted to 50,000 cells / ml in RPMI 1640 culture medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum. 4 bottles of culture of 25 cm2 are filled with cell suspension, at the rate of 10 ml / vial, ie 500,000 cells / vial.

Four vials are thus prepared, each corresponding to a different experimental group:

Group 1: Non-irradiated, untreated cells (Et / Ni in Figure 9)

Group 2: non-irradiated cells, treated by DRC-11 (DRC-11 / NI in the figure

9)

Group 3: irradiated cells, untreated (Et / 4 Gy in FIG. 9) Group 4: irradiated cells, treated with DRC-11 (DRC-11/4 Gy in FIG. 9)

The RDC-11, prepared from an ethanolic solution, is added to the cells (vial 2 and 4) 6 hours before the irradiation. An identical volume of ethanol (Et, 66 μl) is added to vials 1 and 3. The final concentration of RDC-11 is 10 μM, and the medium is not replaced during the 9 days of the experiment.

Vials 3 and 4 are irradiated at 4 Gy at room temperature and then cultured at 37 ^° C.

The days following the irradiation, aliquots of cell suspensions are regularly taken. The number of cells is determined using a Coulter Counter. Other cells are fixed in ethanol and then labeled with propidium iodide to determine the percentage of apoptosis.

Results Cell counts clearly show the action of radiation and DRC-11 on the proliferation of RDM4. When these two treatments are combined, cell growth is greatly slowed down. This effect is particularly marked at 9 days post-irradiation (Figure 9). The flow cytometric analysis of propidium iodide-labeled cells indicates, moreover, that co-treatment induces more apoptosis than irradiation alone, or that DRC-11 alone, and that the percentage of apoptotic cells is greater than the sum of treatments taken separately (Figure 10).

conclusions

On the basis of these two criteria and from these results, it can be concluded that the combination of RDC-11 + irradiation has a supra-additive effect. Comparable results were obtained with X-rays used by radiotherapy, and carbon ions. They have been confirmed by other tests, such as MTT or Alamar Blue.

5. ANALYSIS OF CYTOSTATIC AND CYTOTOXIC EFFECTS OF RUTHENIUM-DERIVED COMPOUNDS ON GLIOBLASTOMES AND NEUROBLASTOMES CULTURES

The first step in characterizing the anticancer effects of ruthenium-derived compounds is to test their activity on tumor lines maintained in culture and to compare these effects on lines that have different characteristics of resistance to anticancer treatments. Two human glioblastoma lines (A172, HS683) and two neuroblastoma lines (N2A and SH5Y) were used to test the cytostatic effects of the compounds according to the invention. Cisplatin was chosen as a cytotoxic comparator. In the first approach, an MTT test was used to measure the activity of a mitochondrial enzyme, which gives an estimate of the number of cells. Subsequently, the cytotoxic effects of the compounds according to the invention were characterized more finely by an analysis of the morphology of the nucleus and the activation of caspase 3, two markers of cellular apoptosis.

RESULTS Several compounds derived from ruthenium decrease the number of tumor cells and on all the lines tested, A172, HS683, N2A, and SH5Y (Figure 1, Table 2). For the most active compounds (compounds 6, 9 and 12), this effect is observed at a similar or lower concentration than that of cisplatin. Based on these experiments, IC50 values were estimated corresponding to the concentration required to halve the amount of tumor cells present relative to the control condition. These results summarized in Table 1 were also replicated in other cell lines, HCT116 and 293, and in primary cultures of glia.

Immunocytochemical analyzes on glioblastoma A172 cells showed that after 48 hours of treatment compounds 6, 9 and 12 induce a condensation and a nuclear fragmentation characteristic of apoptosis (FIG. 2A, B). Moreover, the cells treated with the most active compounds (compound 6) show a strong labeling of the active fragment of caspase 3 (FIG. 2A, B). This result is reinforced by the increase in the protein levels of the active fragment of caspase 3 detected by Western blotting in A172 cells treated with cisplatin or with a compound (compound 6 or 9, FIG. 2C). Equivalent results were also observed in N2A and HCT116 cells (results not shown).

Taken together, the results show that ruthenium compounds (6, 9 and 12) exert cytostatic and cytotoxic effects on neuroblastoma, glioblastoma and other cell types. Characterization of the cytotoxic effects shows that these CDRs induce apoptosis in these various cell types, as is observed with cisplatin.

6. ANALYSIS OF MOLECULAR MECHANISMS INVOLVED BY RUTHENIUM DERIVATIVES: The arrest of cell proliferation or the induction of apoptosis are cellular processes induced by various anticancer drugs. Two of the important proteins in triggering these processes are the proteins encoded by the p53 and p73 homologous genes (Marin and Kaelin 2000). The p53 and p73 proteins encoded by these two genes are transcription factors whose protein levels are induced in response to DNA damage or other cellular stresses. The induction of p53 protein levels involves an increase in the stability of the protein that is no longer degraded by the proteasome pathway (Vargas, Takahashi et al., 2003, Yang, Li et al., 2004). Cisplatin is an inducer of p53 and p73 (Siddik 2003). Moreover, these proteins, as transcription factors, induce the expression of particular genes directly involved in stopping cell growth, such as p21 an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases, or in apoptosis, such as bax which is localized in the mitochondria and participates in the release of cytochrome C (Prives and Hall 1999).

In order to determine the molecular mechanisms involved in ruthenium derivatives and to compare them with those induced by cisplatin, the expression of p53, p73 p21 and bax in lines A172 and HCT116 was analyzed.

RESULTS:

Western blot analyzes were performed to determine whether CDRs induced p53 protein levels in A172 cells. The results show differences between CDR and cisplatin. After 24h treatment, cisplatin induces protein levels of p53 but no effect is observed for CDR 6 (Figure 3). On the other hand, at 6 h of treatment, CDR6 and cisplatin induce p53. An equivalent result is observed on the protein levels of p73. In order to determine whether the induction of the p53 and p73 proteins leads to the activation of the target genes of these proteins, the expression of p21 and of Bax was analyzed by Western blotting. After 24 hours of treatment, CDR 6 as cisplatin induce the expression of p21 and Bax (Figure 4).

These experiments were repeated in HCT116 cells which are widely used as models for studying the activation of p53 by anticancer agents. In these cells, CDR (CDR6) induction of p53 was also observed, but with some differences (Figure 5). On the one hand, the kinetics of activation is similar to that of cisplatin starting at 6 o'clock and staying up to 24h. On the other hand, CDRs induce p53 more weakly than cisplatin. However, the increase in p21 expression and the inhibition of histone H3 phosphorylation, a marker of cell proliferation, are identical between CDR 6 and cisplatin.

The data collected show that CDRs induce molecular mechanisms that are in part identical to those mediated by cisplatin (p53, p73, Bax, p21). However, there are also differences that indicate that CDRs would trigger mechanisms different from those of cisplatin or other anticancer compounds.

7. ANALYSIS OF THE SENSITIVITY OF RUTHENIUM DERIVATIVES TO CELLULAR RESISTANCE MECHANISMS

The anticancer effects of drugs such as cisplatin are unfortunately greatly diminished by the triggering by the cell of resistance processes that block apoptotic mechanisms (mutation of p53 ...) or increases the expression of proteins that detoxify the cell. For cisplatin, several mechanisms have been described and they are also effective against carboplatin, a derivative of cisplatin (Safaei, Katano et al., 2004). It is therefore It is particularly important to test the sensitivity of CDRs to these resistance mechanisms in order to determine the exact contribution that these compounds can have for the treatment of tumors resistant to existing chemotherapeutic treatments. One of these mechanisms is the overexpression of the copper export pump (ATP7B) which expels cisplatin out of the cell. It has been shown that this molecule is overexpressed in human tumors and that cell lines that over-express this molecule are more resistant to cisplatin and carboplatin than control lines.

RESULTS:

Two cell lines derived from 2008 cells (Katano, Safaei et al., 2003) were studied. One overexpresses the ATP7B pump and the other only contains the control vector. The cytostatic activity of cisplatin and CDRs in these two lines was tested using the MTT assay. Very interestingly, it has been observed that the line expressing ATP7B is significantly less sensitive to cisplatin. while its sensitivity to CDR6 is equivalent to that of the control line (Figure 5).

These results suggest that resistance mechanisms developed by one cell against cisplatin or against another drug are, in part, less effective against CDR. It is therefore possible to use CDRs in the treatment of tumors resistant to cisplatin or other anticancer drugs.

8. USE OF COMPOUNDS DERIVED FROM RUTHENIUM IN COMBINATION WITH OTHER ANTI-CANCER AGENTS:

The mechanisms induced by various anti-cancer drugs are different depending on the mode of action of these drugs. For many years, Cancer treatments combining multiple drugs are used to increase their effectiveness. Based on this approach, treatments combining ruthenium derivatives with other drugs such as NCS (Neocarzinostatin) and taxol have been undertaken and their efficacy compared to that of individual treatments. NCS induces double strand breaks of DNA I ^1, similar to those of gamma rays (Smith and Nicolaou, 1996). Taxol disrupts mitotic spindles (Oberlies and Kroll 2004).

RESULTS: NCS or Taxol are drugs with an IC50 of the order of nM. A comparison was made using two doses of NCS and two doses of Taxol. One that allows to wait for the IC50, the other which leads to a 10% decrease in cell viability after 48 hours of treatment. These two concentrations were combined with a concentration of ruthenium derivative or cisplatin causing 10% of the maximal effect. Co-treatment with ruthenium derivatives (CDR 6) is significantly more effective compared to co-treatment with cisplatin (Figure 6). Equivalent results are obtained with taxol and NCS.

These results show that compounds derived from ruthenium have a "potentiating effect" significantly stronger than cisplatin on the activity of other drugs such as NCS or taxol.

9. MTT TEST:

The experiments are carried out under a vertical laminar flow hood. The cell growth medium is composed of DMEM (Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium), HEPES, 10% FCS (Fetal CAIF Serum), 5% PS (penicillin, streptomycin) and stored at 4 ⁰ C, and the PBS (Phosphate Saline buffer, pH = 7.4). Trypsin-EDTA (0.25% trypsin in 1 mM Na ₄ (EDTA)) and FCS are stored at -15 ^° C. and thawed before use. MTT (4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-bromide) diphenyltetrazolium) is a yellow solid produced by Aldrich. It is placed in a sterile aqueous solution at a concentration of 5 mg / ml and stored at + 4 ° C. It is diluted to 10% in cell culture medium when used as a living cell staining agent. Human colon cancer (HCT-116) or liver (A-172) cells were purchased from European Type Culture Collection, and placed in an incubator at 37 ^° C., 5% CO ₂ in round petri dishes ( diameter 10 cm.) with 10 mL of medium. When they are quite numerous (70% confluence), they are washed with PBS at room temperature and then mixed with 1.5 ml of Trypsin-EDTA to unhook them from the petri dish. They are placed in the incubator for a few minutes to accelerate this detachment. This cell suspension is placed in culture medium heated to 37 ^° C., then this solution is spread in 96-well cell culture plates (100 μl / well) which is incubated for 48 hours until it reaches a confluence 50% cell. The medium is renewed by cell medium containing different concentrations of RDCs and cisplatin at 37 ° C, which is incubated. After 48 hours, the medium is replaced by a solution at 37 ^° C. of MTT in medium, which is placed in the incubator for at least one hour or until violet crystals resulting from the complexation of the MTT are formed quantitatively at the bottom of each well. Finally, this medium is replaced by 100 μl / well of 0.04 M HCl / PrOH solution at room temperature to dissolve the crystals. A reading of the optical density of the solutions obtained is made. The optical densities of the RDC or cisplatin treated wells are compared with those of the untreated wells (controls). Handling consists of treating 4 plates (3 X RDC and cisplatin). Each plate contains a single product at different concentrations. 9 columns are processed at 50, 20, 15, 10, 7.5, 5, 2.5, 1 and 0.2 μM and 3 columns are left as controls. Only the control columns noted (i) m (1 <i <4) (Fig. 11) are taken into account for the calculations. The determination of I ¹ IC ₅₀ and the statistical tests of variance and Newmann-Keuls are performed using the Prism GraphPad v software. 4.

MTT results are shown in Figure 11 for HCT-116. A table summarizing the IC ₅₀ obtained is given below:

IC50 summary table

10. IN vivo TEST:

RDC-11 has been tested in vivo to confirm its in vitro anti-cancer properties highlighted above. A preliminary experiment on a small number of healthy SWISS mice showed the absence of apparent toxicity of RDC-11.

The animals are handled under a laminar flow hood. Ten eleven-week old nu / nu (nude) SWISS mice were grafted with U-87 cells (a human glioblastoma) subcutaneously in the left thigh. After 7 days, the tumors become apparent and treatment begins. The animals are separated into two groups of five, 5 mice are thus treated with D-PBS (control mice) and the other 5 with RDC-11 (treated mice). For treated mice, 2 mg of RDC-11 dissolved in 4 mL of hot D-PBS for each injection. 0.5 ml of this solution cooled at room temperature by intraperitoneal route is administered to each mouse. For the control mice, 0.5 ml of D-PBS at room temperature is administered in the same way. The days of injections are marked with a cross in the table below

May-05

The dose of RDC-11 injected is 18.5 mg / kg of mouse. The cumulative dose is therefore 185 mg / kg.

The evolution of apparent tumors was followed by measuring them with a vernier caliper, weighing the mice and scanning one mouse from each batch by CT-scan after injection of a contrast medium (Fenestra VC). The mice were individualized by tagging.

The volume of apparent tumors was calculated according to the formula:

V = (4/3) * π * (L / 2) * (1/2) ² where L is the measured length and I width.

Figures 12 and 13 show the evolution of apparent tumor volumes and mouse weights as a function of time. During the dissection of the mice, tumors in both groups are isolated and weighed (in g). The results are given in FIG. 14. By comparing the tumor measurement figures (calculated volume and weight), it is possible to conclude that the calculated tumor volumes are smaller than the tumor volume observed. In fact, the tumors have grown in depth, hence the difficulty of measuring them with a vernier caliper. Nevertheless, the weight and volume of treated tumors are lower than controls.

Conclusions DRC-11 inflicts tumor growth in the absence of any toxicity.

REFERENCES

Alarcon-Vargas D. & Ronai Z. (2002). p53-Mdm2 - the affair that never ends. Carcinogenesis. 23 (4), 541-7

Coelho D, Fischer B, HoIl V, Jung GM, Dufour P, JP Bergerat, Denis JM, Gueulette J, Bischoff P. (2002). involvement of tp53 in apoptosis induced in human lymphoblastoid cells by fast neutrons. Radiat. Res. 157 (4), 446-52

Katano, K., R. Safaei, et al. (2003). "The copper export pump ATP7B modulates the cellular pharmacology of carboplatin in ovarian carcinoma cells." Mol Pharmacol 64 (2): 466-73.

Marin, M. C. and W. G. Kaelin, Jr. (2000). "p63 and p73: old members of a new family." Biochim

Biophvs Acta 1470 (3): M93-M100. Oberlies, N.H. and D.J. Kroll (2004). "Camptothecin and taxol: historical achievements in natural products research." JNat Prod 67 (2): 129-35. Prives, C. and P. A. Hall (1999). "The p53 pathway." J Pathol 187 (1): 112-26.

Safaei, R., Katano K, et al. (2004). "Cross-resistance to cisplatin in cells with resistance to copper." Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 53 (3): 239-46. Siddik, Z. H. (2003). "Cisplatin: mode of cytotoxic action and molecular basis of resistance."

Oncogene 22 (47): 7265-79. Smith, A.L. and K.C. Nicolaou (1996). "The enediyne antibiotics." J Med Chem 39 (11): 2103-17. Vargas, D.A., S.Takahashi, et al. (2003). "Mdm2: A regulator of cell growth and death." Adv

Cancer Res 89: 1-34. Yang, Y., C.C. Li, et al. (2004). "Regulating the p53 system through ubiquitination." oncogenic

23 (11): 2096-106.

Claims

A pharmaceutical composition comprising, in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, at least one ruthenium complex compound (II) of the following general formula (I) or (II):

(I) (H)

formula (I) or (II) in which:

Li, L ₂ , L ₃ and L ₄ , which are identical or different, represent either a donor ligand of 2 electrons by a nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus or sulfur atom, or a halogen atom,

R1 represents a hydrogen atom or one or more substitutions on the phenyl group selected from a (C1-6) alkyl and (C6-18) aryl radical, Y is a counter ion (when m = 1), m is 0 or 1, between C and N, represented by a curved line, there is a succession of atoms forming, with the carbon atoms, nitrogen and ruthenium represented on formulas (I) and (II), the metallocycle, which consists of 5 to 8 atoms (including the carbon, nitrogen and ruthenium atoms represented in formulas (I) and (N)).

2. Composition according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the ligands donating two electrons by a nitrogen atom, oxygen, phosphorus or sulfur atom are selected from H ₂ O, di ((Ci-6) alkyl) O, di ((Ci _-6) alkyl) S, di ((Ci _-6) alkyl) S (O), (Ci _{- 6} ) alkyl) SO ₃ ^" , di ((C _1-6 ) alkyl) C = O and (C _1-6 ) alkylCO ₂ ^" .

3. Composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the ligands giving two electrons by a nitrogen atom are chosen from ligands of formula (C _1-6 ) alkylCN (in particular CH ₃ CN) and pyridine ligands, optionally substituted on one or more carbon atoms of the pyridine cycles, by a radical (Ci _-6) alkyl or halogen.

4. Composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the donor ligands of two electrons by a nitrogen atom are selected from primary amines (C _1-6 ) alkyl, such as methylamine or ethylamine.

5. Composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the donor ligands of two electrons by a phosphorus atom are phosphine ligands.

6. Composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the donor ligands of two electrons by a phosphorus atom are of formula P (Ph) _3-x (alkyl) χ, with x representing 0, 1 or 2.

7. Composition according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the case of the formula (II), at least two groups L ₁ , L ₂ , L ₃ and L ₄ , taken in pairs, are connected by at least one covalent bond.

8. Composition according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the case of formula (II), at least two groups Li, L ₂ , L ₃ and L ₄ , taken two to two, represent the bipyridine or phenanthroline units, optionally substituted, in particular with at least one alkyl radical, or else 1,2-bisdiphenylphosphinoethane.

9. Composition according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the case of formula (II), at least one group Li, L ₂ , L ₃ and L ₄ , representing a donor ligand of two electrons by a nitrogen or phosphorus atom, is a pyridine, phosphine, bipyridine or phenanthroline group.

10. Composition according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the case of formula (II), at least two of the groups Li, L ₂ , L ₃ and L ₄ , represent nitrile ligands, for example ligands of formula (d- ₆ ) alkylCN (in particular CH ₃ CN).

11. Composition according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the case of formula (II), two of the groups Li, L ₂ , L ₃ and L ₄ represent nitrile ligands, for example ligands. of formula (C _1-6 ) alkylCN (in particular CH ₃ CN), and the other two ligands are connected by at least one covalent bond.

12. Composition according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that Y ^" is PF ₆ ^' , BF ₄ ^' , CF ₃ CO ₂ ^" , CH ₃ CO ₂ ^" , CF ₃ SO ₃ ^" , or NO ₃ ^" .

13. Composition according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that m is equal to 1.

14. Composition according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the curved line is a 5-atom metallocycle chosen from a metallocycle defined according to one of the following formulas:

15. Composition according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the curved line is a metallocycle with 6 or 7 atoms selected from a metallocycle defined according to one of the following formulas:

with R, identical or different, representing H or an alkyl radical, preferably methyl, and R ₂ and R ₃ , identical or different, representing a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy radical, thiol, thioether, hydroxyl, nitro, cyano or ester.

16. Composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the compound is chosen from compounds 3 to 6 and 8 to 29.

17. A compound of ruthenium selected from the following compounds:

18. Composition according to one of claims 1 to 16, for treating diseases related to cellular hyperproliferation.

19. Composition according to one of claims 1 to 16, for treating cancers.

20. Composition according to one of claims 1 to 16, for treating glioblastomas, leukemias (promyelocytic), prostate cancers, ovaries, lungs, breasts, digestive tract, in particular liver, pancreas, head and neck, colon, bladder, non-Hodgkin lymphoma or melanoma.

21. Composition according to one of claims 1 to 16, intended to treat cancers by accumulation of tumor cells in G0 / G1 phase, and possibly by induction of apoptosis.

22. Composition according to one of claims 1 to 16, for treating tumors resistant to cisplatin or other anticancer drugs.

23. Composition according to one of claims 1 to 16, for treating cancers in combination with an anti-cancer treatment using radiation, such as radiotherapy and brachytherapy.

24. Composition according to one of claims 1 to 16, for treating cancers in combination with at least one other anti-cancer chemical agent, packaged and administered in a combined, separate or sequential manner.

25. Compounds according to claim 17 as medicaments.